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The high-octane Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is set to commence on November 22nd with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The Indian team has already arrived in Australia and is currently engaged in intense practice sessions at the WACA Stadium. As the series approaches, individual rivalries are beginning to heat up.
Usman Khawaja's open challenge for Jasprit Bumrah
One such rivalry involves Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Australian opener Usman Khawaja. Khawaja has acknowledged the challenge posed by Bumrah's unique bowling action, which makes it difficult to predict his deliveries. Notably, Khawaja has remained unbeaten in seven Test innings against Bumrah, although he has scored a modest 43 runs off 155 deliveries.
"I mean, when you first face him, it's just his action. It's a different, bizarre kind of action as his release point is very different than other bowlers," Khawaja told Fox Cricket.
"It's just a bit further up. So a lot of guys release the ball from near the popping crease. [Against Bumrah] it feels like he gets a bit further out just with his front braced leg and pushes the ball out.
"So it feels like it comes out and then gets there a lot quicker than you expect it. It's just once you get used to the action, it's fine. I played against him a lot. Not to say that he can't give me out first ball. I mean anyone can. But it's one of those things where once the first time you face him, it's very awkward and then when you get a little bit of rhythm it gets better. But he's still a class bowler," he added.
Australia, having been defeated by India in the last two home series, are eager to prove their dominance in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In an unintentional revelation, Usman Khawaja hinted at the Australian team's assessment of the Indian bowling attack. While acknowledging Bumrah's threat, Khawaja suggested that India possesses a more diverse and potent bowling lineup.
"Everyone talks about Jasprit, but they actually have a lot of other good bowlers. I think [Mohammed] Siraj is a very good bowler. He's a very good bowler to both right-handers and left-handers. When [Mohammed] Shami was fit, when he was playing those series, he was a very good bowler. He was very underrated. No one really talked about him. And then they got good spinners lining up, too, which really complements their fast bowlers,” Khawaja signed off.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
Australia's squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy's Perth Test
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
